Courses and Study Options

Program of Study

Students earning a MS in Community Development must complete graded courses that total 51 quarter units (thesis option) or 55 quarter units (examination option). In addition, most students fill their schedules with non-graded units for , independent study, and thesis/exam preparation. The typical student completes the program in two years.

The feature most appreciated by students in the UC Davis Community Development degree program is its flexibility to accommodate virtually any student's interests and specialization. The program of study consists of a core of only 20 units that are required, and even these include multiple choices. Students take additional courses in Community and Regional Development and from other departments. This allows students to design -with appropriate input from faculty members- a program of study that is relevant to their particular interests.

Core courses

The Community Development graduate program requires 20 units of core courses. These include two 4-unit courses and four 1-unit seminar courses that all students must take:

Electives: 20 elective units (thesis) or 24 elective units (exam) are required. Courses must be letter graded and at least half of the electives must be 200 level or higher. One course must be a methods course appropriate to areas of specialization.

Courses in field of specialization

Students have the opportunity to supplement their core classes with electives in their field of specialization The number of units required depends on whether the student selects to do a thesis (20 units) or to take a comprehensive written and oral examination (24 units). The courses in the specialization field are selected by the student to meet their particular needs and interests, and the only restriction on the course selection is that half or more of the units must be at the graduate level (200 or higher). Courses may be drawn from any relevant department on campus; students frequently select courses taught by members of the graduate group. Courses must be letter graded. Click here to view classes recently taken by students.

First-year students are initially matched with an advisor from among the faculty members in the graduate group. Their advisor helps them select courses, identify potential internships and jobs, define thesis/exam topics, and complete all requirements. Students may change advisors at any time as their interests develop. By early in their second year students should be putting together a three-member thesis or exam committee (see below); the chair of this committee, who must be a member of the CDGG, then handles advising tasks during the second year.

Thesis Option

Students who choose to complete a thesis option typically do so based on their internship, field research, surveys, or other analysis. The MS Degree thesis is a study or research project that demonstrates knowledge and application of scholarship in community development. The thesis meets the standards and practices of scholarly investigation for the topic being studied and can utilize any appropriate methodology. Thesis presentation must conform to Graduate Studies format requirements and must be printed on special paper so that the thesis can be bound and filed in the UC Davis Library.

The student completes the thesis under the guidance of a Thesis Committee consisting of three faculty chosen by the student. The committee will meet with the student for an oral defense of the thesis, which will involve the student presenting a brief overview of the main theme of the thesis and answering questions concerning the research and analysis.

The thesis is not a dissertation (e.g., for a PhD) and ideally is no more than 60 pages. Students are encouraged to start their thesis early but every effort is made to enable students to complete their thesis and graduate at the end of their second year. To help students complete their thesis in a timely manner the faculty provide considerable assistance including a generic outline, tips for completing a thesis, and writing skill seminars as part of CRD 250. Click here to view abstracts and theses completed by students.

Exam Option

Students choosing to complete their degree with the examination option take both a written comprehensive examination and an oral examination under the guidance of the student's Exam Committee (consisting of three faculty). Prior to the written examination, the committee members and the candidate agree on a minimum list of literature and areas of knowledge likely to be covered in the written and oral exam.

Each member of the student's examination committee formulates questions for the written exam based on the student's topic areas and reading list. Students are given 72 hours to work on the exam which is then read by the entire committee. Students typically write 10-15 page answers to each of the three questions they are given. Based on their reading of the exam, the committee conducts an oral examination based on the written exam as well as other questions to determine if the student has a comprehensive understanding of the field.

Internship Requirement

Students are required to complete a 200 hour professional internship in a community development organization (which, along with a written evalutation, is counted as 7 units of CRD 292 credit). This is highly valued by students who view it as a way to network, gain practical skills, and develop substantive expertise. Internship placement assistance is provided by the Department and External Advisory Committee.

Additional Information

To view the official Master of Science in Community Development Program of Study, click on this link. The Program of Study gives a convenient overview of the information provided on this webpage, and can be viewed/printed using Adobe Reader.

This link lists the undergraduate Community and Regional Development courses currently offered at UC Davis, some of which have been taken by Community Development graduate students to supplement their studies.

UC Extension

Students may also want to explore options of courses that are taught at UC Davis Extension. A total of 12 units can be counted from UC Davis Extension courses, as part of the elective course (Courses in Field of Specialization) component of the MS degree. Programs that may be of particular interest to Community Development Students include: